Goodfellow-Ashmore CORFAC International, one of the largest and oldest commercial realty firms in northern Fairfield County and western Connecticut, celebrated its 75th anniversary this July. "We formed the company on July 3rd so we could take the next day off," joked company founder Robert Goodfellow during the firm's 75th anniversary celebration. At age 96, Goodfellow recalled that he and Harry Ashmore formed The Goodfellow Ashmore Agency as a real estate and insurance company in 1934. Ashmore died in 2008.
Todd Payne, SIOR, president and owner of Goodfellow Ashmore CORFAC International and Robert Goodfellow's grandson, joined the firm when he was 26 and has spent the past 20 years running the company. "We bought and sold other companies along the way. Today we have close to 100 employees and agents who provide commercial brokerage services through Goodfellow Ashmore and also residential brokerage services through ERA Goodfellow Homes. Our primary market is western Connecticut from Ridgefield up into Torrington. We enjoy substantial market share throughout northern Fairfield County and Litchfield County in both the commercial and residential markets."
After founding Goodfellow Ashmore in 1934, Goodfellow was instrumental over the following 60 years in bringing much of the manufacturing base to the Greater Danbury region that still exists today. Some of the companies he brought to the Danbury area included Barden, Eagle Pencil, Commerce Park, Davis and Geck and Grolier. "In addition to teaching me about economic development, my grandfather instilled in me a strong commitment to give back to my communities," said Payne. "He gave a great deal of his time and resources to many organizations throughout the area including being founding president of the regional YWCA, serving on the board of the Danbury Library, and being the first president of the Kiwanis Club, and serving on the Danbury Hospital board of directors. For 60 years he lived in Brookfield, and today he's a thriving resident of Danbury."
Since its founding, Goodfellow Ashmore has expanded into being one of the fastest growing real estate and corporate services company in the Danbury region. "The growth," said Payne, "stems from consistency. We built our success on an operating platform that consistently provides regional as well as national corporations, small to medium-sized businesses, and individuals, with tangible, realistic and affordable real estate solutions that meet every need." Goodfellow Ashmore CORFAC International today provides services that offer a combination of asset and property management, commercial and residential brokerage, construction, development, plus investment services.
As a full service firm," Payne explained, "corporations, businesses and individuals all have access to a premier, fully-integrated commercial and residential real estate company in northern Fairfield and Litchfield Counties. Also, with the expanded scope of CORFAC International and ERA we are able to service our client needs in the U.S. and around the world. Goodfellow-Ashmore manages a real estate portfolio today valuing over $2 billion. This includes a combination office, retail, apartment and industrial properties," said Payne. "Three years ago, we also opened a Goodfellow Ashmore office in Torrington, and we've been enjoying a substantial market share in the Litchfield County region for the past 20 months. My grandfather always told me to look for the path of growth and I believe that the corridor from New Milford to Torrington has the retail and office growth potential that Danbury saw in the 1980s."